FAMILY RESEMBLANCE

Often, we can see family resemblances in people from the same family.  It might be their facial features, but more often than not, it is largely their characteristics, speech, mannerisms, and even the thought patterns they share that reflect their likeness to other family members.  Upon being saved by Jesus Christ, we become part of His family [READ GALATIANS 3:28-29, JOHN 1:12].  We were created in God’s likeness and it is through salvation that we return to God’s likeness [READ GENESIS 5:1, EPHESIANS 2:10, & ROMANS 8:28-30].   Do your characteristics, speech, mannerisms, and thought patterns you share reflect a resemblance of being part of God’s family [READ 1 CORINTHIANS 2:16]?  Not as a forced behavior but as a natural extension of being one with the One (Jesus) who lives in you [READ CORINTHIANS 3:18, JAMES 2:14-17, 1 CORINTHIANS 15:49].  Are you supportive of God’s family members?  Not as an obligation but as a genuine love and care for others that belong to your family [READ COLOSSIANS 3:9-10, JAMES 3:9].  As you gather with your natural family members during these holiday seasons, have a mindfulness of also gathering through your thoughts, words, and actions with your family members in Christ Jesus [READ 1 JOHN 4:16, 1 TIMOTHY 5:8, GALATIANS 6:10].  An intentional mindfulness that internally links you to God’s family members through Holy Spirit and externally reflects to the world around you your family resemblance to Jesus Christ [READ 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, 1 JOHN 3:10].